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Warm summer weather, dry foliage and drought. It’s the ideal formula for an active fire season. Forecasters are predicting an increased incidence of wildfires throughout Southern Arizona this summer.
Residents, especially those living in more remote, outlying areas, are urged to have an emergency preparedness plan in place to help make potential evacuations smoother.
“The most important thing we can emphasize is to be prepared,” said Amanda Thomas, spokeswoman for the Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Red Cross. “You just never know when something like this is going to happen.
Having an emergency plan allows families to escape wildfires with less panic.”
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The Red Cross suggests establishing a list of responsibilities for different family members, along with choosing a meeting place and creating a communication plan.
In addition, assembling a disaster kit can make a huge difference for families in the event an evacuation is ordered.
The Red Cross offers the following list of items for an evacuation preparedness kit:
• Water — Have at least one gallon per person.
• Food — Pack non-perishable, high-protein items, including: energy bars; ready-to-eat soup; peanut butter; and a variety of foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking with little or no water.
• Flashlight — Remember to include extra batteries.
• First Aid Kit — The Red Cross recommends including a reference guide.
• Medications — Don’t forget prescription and non-prescription items. Store them together, so they’re easy to grab in case of a sudden evacuation.
• Battery-operated radio — Include extra batteries.
• Tools — Assemble a kit of basic tools that include the following: wrench; screwdriver; hammer; pliers; knife; duct tape; plastic sheeting; garbage bags and ties; and a manual can opener.
• Clothing — Provide a change of clothes for everyone, including sturdy shoes and gloves.
• Personal items — Remember eyeglasses or contact lenses and solution; copies of important papers; and comfort items such as toys and tools.
• Sanitary supplies — Toilet paper; feminine products; personal hygiene items such as hand soap and hand sanitizers; bleach; and towels.
• Money — It’s best to have cash on hand. Remember, ATMs are not going to be working if the wildfire has caused power outages.
• Contact Information — Carry a current list of family phone numbers and e-mail addresses. Those numbers should include someone living out of the area in case local phone lines are out of service or overloaded.
• Pet supplies — Don’t forget pet food, water, leashes, litter box or plastic bags, as well as any medications and vaccination information. It’s best to have well ventilated pet carriers with bedding for dogs and cats, especially if the family will be staying in hotels or with friends.
• Don’t forget to include necessary items for infants, seniors and people with disabilities. Every family’s kit needs to be personalized to suit the individual needs of different family members.
Store the disaster supplies in a sturdy but easy-to-carry container such as a covered trash container, overnight backpack or duffel bag.
It’s a good idea to keep a smaller version of the emergency kit in the family vehicle, in case some family members are temporarily separated.
“No one wants to face a disaster, but being ready for one makes it much more comfortable for the entire family,” Thomas said.
For information about how to prepare for wildfire season, visit the Red Cross Web site at www.redcrossarizona.org.
MAKE A SUPPLY KIT FOR PETS
SIERRA VISTA — Hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst, fire officials are predicting an intense wildfire season for Southern Arizona.
The Humane Society of the United States is reminding animal owners to be ready to take their pets with them in the event of forced evacuations.
“Typically, pet owners won’t evacuate without their pets,” said Kari Nienstedt, Arizona State Director of HSUS. “One of the problems we see is that owners don’t realize they may be gone for a long period of time. Even if you think you may only be gone for a few hours, take your animals.”
“The other thing we recommend is, leave early. Don’t wait for a mandatory evacuation order if things look bad.”
It’s better to make an unnecessary trip than to wait too long, Nienstedt said.
Just as the American Red Cross recommends an emergency supply kit for people, the HSUS is offering similar advice for pets, including horses and farm animals.
Emergency supply kits for dogs and cats should contain the following items:
• Three-or-more-day supply of food in an airtight, waterproof container.
• Plenty of drinking water.
• Bowls for food and water.
• Current photos and physical description of all pets, including details on markings.
• Medications, vaccination records and first aid supplies.
• Bedding, blankets and toys.
• Small garbage bags.
• For dogs, include a comfortable collar and tags, leashes, a sturdy carrier large enough to use as a sleeping area.
• For cats, include a litter box and extra litter, a sturdy carrier large enough for transport and to use as a temporary kitty apartment.
Pets should be wearing visible identification at all times. Don’t wait until disaster strikes to locate and place collars on dogs and cats. Have the emergency kit in a designated place where it’s easily accessible.
Owners need to leave a number with a trusted neighbor, where they can be reached in the event of a disaster. The HSUS recommends letting the person know where their emergency kit is, so they can move the animals, if necessary.
Because many evacuation shelters do not accept pets, owners need to keep destinations in mind that allow animals when an emergency strikes. Some hotels and motels will lift pet restrictions in emergency situations.
“The Red Cross works closely with the Humane Society and other animal rescue organizations to help pet owners when evacuations are ordered,” said Amanda Thomas, spokeswoman for the Southern Chapter of the American Red Cross. “We understand that pets are family members too, and it’s extremely painful if pets are left behind.”
A preparedness plan is key to a smooth evacuation, especially when large animals such as horses are involved.
“Know ahead of time where you can take your horses,” Nienstedt advised. “Disaster preparedness is important for all animals, but it really takes extra planning when it comes to horses.”
Fairgrounds, race tracks, boarding facilities and livestock auction yards often accept horses when disaster strikes.
“We would never turn people away if they were faced with an emergency evacuation,” said Mike Robertson, owner of Robertson Horse Sales in Benson. “Disasters happen so quickly, people have to move fast and get their animals to safety. It’s stressful enough without having the added worry about where to take them.”
Karen Strongin, general manager of the Cochise County Fair Association in Douglas, said the county fairgrounds is willing to provide temporary housing for horses that need to be evacuated.
Trailering is another issue. Owners without horse trailers need to make hauling arrangements well ahead of time. The HSUS suggests having several people on standby to help evacuate horses.
As part of the preparedness plan for horses, have a halter for each horse, with the animal’s name, owner’s name and phone number. In addition to the owner’s telephone number, the HSUS advises another emergency number where someone can be reached.
“Don’t wait until the last minute to make these arrangements,” Nienstedt said. “We can’t emphasize enough how important it is to be organized and do things ahead of time.”
SAVE YOUR HORSES:
During an emergency, the time allowed to evacuate horses is often limited. It’s critical that horse owners have an effective emergency plan in place to expedite evacuation when disaster strikes.
The following evacuation tips have been provided by the Humane Society of the United States, or HSUS.
• Make arrangements in advance when horses have to be trailered during an emergency. Horse owners who do not have a trailer or who do not have enough trailer space for all of their horses, will need to have several people on standby to help evacuate their animals.
• Know where to take horses in an emergency evacuation. Locally, the Cochise County Fairgrounds in Douglas and Robertson Horse Sales in Benson have offered their facilities in the event of emergency evacuations. The HSUS also recommends making arrangements with friends or other horse owners.
• Inform friends and neighbors of evacuation plans, in the event others will need to evacuate the horses.
• Place all important information — medical history, allergies, vaccination records and emergency telephone numbers — in a watertight envelope. Store the envelope with all other important papers in a safe place that can be quickly reached.
• Keep halters ready for each horse. Halters should include the horse’s name, owner’s name, telephone number and another emergency number where someone can be reached.
• Have a basic first aid kit ready and easily accessible.
• Be sure to have a supply of water, hay, feed and medications for each horse.
• It’s vital that all horses are comfortable about being loaded in a trailer. Horses that are unaccustomed to loading need to be worked with until they load easily.
For information about disaster preparedness, write to Disaster Services, The Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L St., NW, Washington DC 20037; or call 202-452-1100; or visit www.hsus.org.
Herald/Review reporter Dana Cole can be reached at 515-4618 or by e-mail at dana.cole@svherald.com.
